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Old 05-16-2012, 04:06 AM   #18
Bookpossum
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I don't think Athena went in for consorting with anyone - or else she managed to keep her private life very private! I think her name Athena Parthenos (as in the Parthenon) meant the Virgin Athena.

There were times when I really want to give Odysseus a good shake and tell him to grow up. All that poking and prodding at things is so childish, as for example shouting at Polyphemus and nearly getting the boat wrecked not once but twice just so he can have the last word.

They were also pretty keen on attacking others for no apparent reason. Back at the beginning of Book 9, when he starts the story within the story, Odysseus mentions that after leaving Troy, they fetched up at Ismarus. They sacked the place, killed the men and took the women and the wealth of the town. Presumably just because it was there and they felt like helping themselves to everything.

I also made a note of the extreme misogynism in the passage where he meets the shade of Agamemnon. Now admittedly Agamemnon had reason to be a bit cheesed off with his wife, but still!

Finally I did like the bit in Book 12 when Circe took Odysseus to task: "But the goddess only cried out at me as an obstinate fool, always spoiling for a fight and welcoming trouble." Spot on, I would say!
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